Luther gets two new episodes for 2015, and a US remake

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One of the best loved British detective dramas was in the news yesterday. Not only was it revealed that Luther was to get US version, but yesterday evening (Wednesday 19th November), the BBC’s DG, Tony Hall, and Controller Of Drama, Ben Stephenson, announced at an industry powwow that the British versions was to get a two-part finale, likely to be broadcast at the end of next year. Hold onto your hats!

Starring Idris Elba and written and created by Neil Cross, Luther became a hit thanks to its gritty urban backdrop, its crazed killers and its brooding, morally ambiguous and volatile lead. Not only that but it did something that no other British crime drama had done before – it saw the man on the right side of the law join forces with a woman on the wrong side of the law. John Luther and Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson) were locked into an obsessive, seemingly internecine relationship that always teetered on the brink of sexual explosiveness but instead provided closure and salvation to Luther.

So that was the backdrop, and fans mourned its passing last year. But now the Beeb is bringing it back. Here’s the blurb:

The highly acclaimed London set crime series is written and created by award winning and Emmy-nominated writer Neil Cross. When asked about the much anticipated return of the hugely popular show, Cross says: “Ever since we said goodbye to John Luther on Southwark Bridge, there’s hardly been a minute when I didn’t wonder what happened next. So I decided to find out. We’re putting the band back together; Luther is coming back where he belongs. Back to the BBC. Back to London. And back to work.”

There has always been a Luther movie touted, but this news puts that idea firmly to bed. We now have the prospect of both new Sherlock and new Luther at the end of 2105.

In a separate development, US network Fox announced that it would be remaking the series for a US audience.

Deadline reports that ‘rich but pilot commitment’ to the project with by Neil Cross and Idris Elba onboard (in writing and executive producing roles). There’s no word yet if Elba will reprise his role. It wouldn’t be a bad shout – US audiences know and love him for his role as Stringer Bell in The Wire. And thanks to the British series being broadcast in the US thanks to BBC America, Elba has already won an Emmy for his role.